Kuala lumpur: The government is set to review the expansion of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) aid to potentially include frozen food products. Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, stated that discussions would be held with the SARA implementation team to evaluate the feasibility of this proposal before making any decisions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Amir Hamzah shared this development while concluding the debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address for the Ministry of Finance in the Dewan Rakyat. He expressed hope that the expansion to include frozen goods under SARA would be announced in the future.

Amir Hamzah also highlighted the positive performance of the SARA programme, noting an increase in the number of recognized outlets from 700 in 2024 to approximately 10,000 last year, which includes 3,000 small grocery shops. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim set a target to boost the number of small grocery shops under the program to 10,000 by the end of this year, further facilitating the participation of small traders and retailers.

The utilization rate of SARA was reported to be high, with 99 percent of recipients experiencing no issues in accessing the assistance, including the availability of participating outlets. The Finance Minister emphasized the careful and orderly approach in the implementation of targeted subsidies to ensure they reached those entitled to them.

Amir Hamzah cited the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) as an example of how RON95 petrol subsidies are being channeled in a more targeted way to minimize leakages and prioritize the use of national funds. He also addressed opposition to the use of MyKad for the distribution of social assistance and subsidies, asserting that this method ensures aid is exclusively enjoyed by Malaysian citizens.